The crowd is hopping from foot to foot—kids blowing whistles; grown-ups blowing steam from coffee cups. It’s a July day masquerading as October, and I’m on the Government Wharf in Joe Batt’s Arm, waiting for the Great Fogo Island Punt Race to There and Back to begin.

I’m in a field bordered by rocks and ocean on Change Islands, off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, petting a couple of ponies called Angel and Lily. These two get along great now, but they got off to a rough start.

Quidi Vidi is an award winning micro-brewery that sits nestled right at the mouth of the Gut. Established in 1996, they are known for producing world-class beers - their British IPA took home the gold at the 2012 World Beer Championships in Chicago. Offering daily tours and tastings to the public, I arrived just in time to belly up to the bar and take a peek behind the scenes of everyone's favourite local brewery.

It's easy to lose an entire morning exploring the bounty of beauty on display at the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation, and when you leave, you just might be ready for wee scoff. Lucky for you, Quidi Vidi is home to St. John's newest dining experiences in one of our oldest buildings - Mallard Cottage.

Nestled comfortably in the Heritage District of St. John's is Winterholme Heritage Inn & Spa. Built between 1905-1907 for Sir Marmaduke Winter, the house is bold and handsome and, at the time of its completion, was one of the most expensive private dwellings ever built in Newfoundland. In 1993 this magnificent property was restored to a single family home and today is a 4-star Heritage Inn with 8 well-appointed suites, an in-house spa service and a large main floor that is often used for special functions. I had the absolute pleasure of spending an evening is this expansive property that is an absolute must see for any self-respecting traveller.

St. John’s is a local shoppers paradise! From spirits to crafts, jewelry to fine art, shopping local for Christmas is easy and affordable. Traveling to St. John’s and want to bring a piece of the island home to place under the Christmas tree? Destination St. John’s has you covered! From now until Christmas we will be running daily blogs that focus on shopping local for your holiday treats. Each blog will feature a different retailer, their most exciting products and why buying local is so important to them. Click the links below for more info!

Just off the coast of Newfoundland is a collection of islands that are not part of the province. Indeed, they are not even Canada! St. Pierre and Miquelon are the last piece of French territory in North America. They are quite distinct from Newfoundland and Labrador, making them a must visit. Indeed, the tourism industry of St. Pierre and Miquelon and the Burin Peninsula, in Eastern Newfoundland, are closely entwined. You’ll discover a whole new world when you take the ferry from the town of Fortune. Here’s some of the coolest facts about Newfoundland and Labrador’s closest foreign country.

For a province known for its wooden boats, quirky ways, and its slower pace of life, Newfoundland and Labrador has been ahead of the rest of the world in a lot of respects. Throughout its history (and even prehistory), the province has been a trend-setter and taste-maker. Because of our 30 minute time zone, we get a lot of firsts: the first sunrise in North America, the first New Year’s party every year, and we even get to see blockbuster movies before everyone else (if only 30 minutes earlier). But these are not the only ways we are ahead of the game. Newfoundland and Labrador has had a front-row seat to history, watching the world change – and then watching the rest of the world catch up!

Shipwrecks have longed captured the imagination of the public. Shipwreck stories, historic and fictional, contain many of the themes that draw interest: man vs. nature, courage, survival, tragedy, hope, life, and death. Newfoundland and Labrador, with 500 years of nautical history, has its fair share of shipwrecks – perhaps more so, given the amount of historic sea traffic, the province’s position in the north Atlantic Ocean, and the foggy and stormy weather. Indeed, some estimates place the number of shipwrecks off the coast of Newfoundland in excess of 10,000!

Newfoundland and Labrador has a wealth of great hiking trails, some of the best in the world. There’s something special about the trails that head to the top of a hill. They provide a definite sense of accomplishment, even on the most modest ascents, and they will supply spectacular views of the surrounding towns and landscapes. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are four of our favourites in Eastern Newfoundland. And they may not be Mount Everest, but they’ll make you feel like you’re on top of the world!

St. John's is a city perched on the edge of nature, surrounded by scenic beauty, dramatic coastlines and wildlife. I decided to grab my picnic blanket and basket and perch myself at some of our top destinations. Join me as I explore our colourful capital city:

The journey to Woodstock Colonial Restaurant is an experience in itself. Located in Paradise, a picturesque town just twenty minutes outside of St. John's, the drive offers dazzling panoramas of Conception Bay that beg you to pull over and take it all in. The Woodstock Colonial has long been heralded as one of the premier fine dining experiences in the greater St. John's area. While the establishment itself dates back to 1927, the general area has welcomed hungry travellers since the 1800's!

My last two days were busy visiting the Johnson Geo-Centre, the Railway Coastal Museum, The Rooms, meeting with Mark Hiscock from Shanneyganock, twacking, listening to Stan Picket and the Rocket Players, a visit to the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft council...and enjoying my last....iceberg

Nestled in woodland above the village of Open Hall in Eastern Newfoundland, Eagles Cliffe Cottages provide luxury accommodations with a breathtaking view of the islands and waters of Bonavista Bay. Known for their outstanding hospitality and coastal scenery of outport Newfoundland, Eagles Cliffe Cottages is excited to expand it's wheelhouse by offering two new unique experiences.